Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com
Friday, May 27, 2011
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Laredo Heat (4-1-0, 12 points) were able to score early in the first half and with a late goal in the second half, they were able to seal a 3-1 victory over the New Orleans Jesters (1-2=0, 3 points).
Esteban Bayona got the Heat on the board in the fifth minute of the contest when he received a nicely placed ball from Max Gunderson just inside and right of the penalty area. Bayona took the Gunderson serving and blasted it pass the outstretched arms of Jester goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell.
Forward Felix Garcia then added to Laredo’s lead in the 26th minute as he made his way around several Jester defenders and took a shot from 15 yards out that struck the nylon on the upper top right corner of the goal.
The Heat were able to maintain their 2-0 lead into halftime, although at times during the the first half the home team was able to pressure Laredo and a few of the shots that they took came very close to finding the back of the net.
In the second half, New Orleans made the game very interesting when forward Reece Wilson nailed a shot from 18 yards out in the 69th minute that got pass Heat goalkeeper Maros Valko.
The scored remained 2-1 as the game went into stoppage time, when Laredo got an insurance goal from 78th-minute substitute Albert Escovar, his first goal of the season.
Laredo outshot New Orleans 17-9 during the contest and several of those shots came close to opening up the game for the Gateway City team. Both Bayona and Escovar missed two golden opportunities when they missed at close range.
Starting Heat goalkeeper Rodrigo Avila was injured late in the first half when his head hit the Pan American Field turf floor after a crash with a Jester Forward. Avila was taken to Tulane Medical Center as a precaution and he has since rejoined his teammates at the team hotel. Avila was diagnosed with a mild concussion and will be out for a minimum of ten days in order to recuperate.
The Heat will travel to Baton Rouge on Saturday for their Sunday match-up in the capital of Louisiana after spending Friday night in New Orleans.
For game updates from Louisiana, fans can follow the Heat on both Twitter (@LaredoHeatSC) and Facebook (Laredo Heat Sc).